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Two of my favourite authors teaming up to write a grumpy/sunshine “angsty rom-com” ? YES, PLEASE – sign me up! Total Creative Control is a captivating read and I blew through it two sittings. Featuring two complex, superbly characterised protagonists, and a small but equally well-written supporting cast, it’s full of humour, witty banter, delicious sexual tension and a multitude of feels – and I loved it.
The ”grumpy” part of the pairing is Lewis Hunter, creator and writer of the hit TV show, Leeches (an urban fantasy-type show with vampires!) which, when the book opens, has been on air for three years. He’s dynamic, hugely talented and very charismatic… but he’s also brusque, demanding, doesn’t seem to have a verbal filter, and is hell to work for. Which is why he goes through assistants like a knife through butter – until the morning his most recent one quits, and he’s assigned a temp named Aaron Page for the rest of the week. Aaron is a big fan of Leeches – which Lewis is both surprised and pleased at – and very quickly shows his aptitude for the job. He’s just finished teacher training and has a job lined up for September; Lewis has never had a PA who actually loved Leeches before, and is already thinking of ways to keep him on for longer. He suggests that if things go well that week, he’d like Aaron to stay until September. Aaron agrees.
The story then skips ahead three years – and finds Aaron still working for Lewis. In the intervening time, he’s made himself pretty much indispensable – not just because he knows Lewis likes brown sauce in his bacon rolls or how many sugars he takes in his tea, but because his knowledge of and love for the show is second only to Lewis’ and he’s provided a lot of valuable feedback and insight into the scripting process during that time. He’s far more than a PA now, and Lewis is a decent enough boss that he’s made sure Aaron is properly compensated for his expanded role. But, as one of Aaron’s colleagues points out, although Aaron well paid for what he does, shouldn’t he be looking to move into a job that would stretch him creatively and make greater use of his talents? But Aaron is happy where he is – and refuses to let himself dwell on the real reason for it. That moving on to a different job would mean leaving Lewis – because that way madness lies. Lewis made it clear on Aaron’s very first day that he doesn’t get involved with colleagues, EVER, and despite the stirrings of attraction they felt for each other when they met, they’ve kept things perfectly professional between them ever since. They’ve both worked hard to maintain that fine line between colleagues and friends, not allowing themselves to be too curious about each other’s personal lives, never attending work functions together, carefully steering their way around anything too intimate – and it’s worked, for the most part, enabling them to carry on with their working relationship as though that’s all that lies between them.
But when Lewis is persuaded to ask Aaron to accompany him on a working weekend at the country home of the television exec who is keen to develop Leeches for the US market – a complete and utter wanker Lewis can’t stand – those lines between the personal and the professional start to blur. Under pressure to make changes to the very fabric of Leeches to satisfy the demands of the US production company, then forced into a number of difficult and uncomfortable situations courtesy of his host, Lewis – already on edge – starts to unravel. A group therapy session unexpectedly unlocks un-dealt-with trauma Lewis has done his best to ignore – but through it all, Aaron is there, unequivocally on his side and keeping him grounded. And this time together, just the two of them against the world, or so it seems, forces them both to confront some long-buried truths they’ve managed to keep locked away so far. And for Aaron, it’s the wake-up call he needs to start putting himself and his career first for a change.
Aaron is adorable – the perfect sunshine to Lewis’ grump – and their chemistry is combustible. He’s sweet and clever and insightful, and I really enjoyed the way his love of Leeches and his love of fanfiction are woven together, and into the story. Fanfic is denigrated in some circles (and Lewis hates it!), but although some of it is undoubtedly crap, Aaron embodies the best endeavours; he’s someone who really gets to know the characters he writes about, and gets into their heads to produce stories that are true to character and as good as – sometimes better! – than the storylines on the actual show. This part of his life does create friction between him and Lewis – who is dismissive and says some pretty hurtful things – until he comes to understand why Aaron – and many others – love it:
It’s about the joy of writing for your own pleasure. And about sharing your work with a community of like-minded people. It’s about… creativity for creativity’s sake.
The only real criticism I can level at the book as a whole is to say that Lewis’ no-relationships-because-I’m-too-selfish/closed-off-and-everybody-leaves-me-thing is just a bit stereotypical; but that said, it is at least well done here, with moments that will make your heart break for Lewis even as you’re screaming at him to get out of his own way.
Both authors are adept at writing stories that tug at the heartstrings, and there are some lovely, angsty moments in this one that will do just that as both men grapple with their feelings for each other, Lewis trying desperately to lock them away, Aaron owning them to himself honestly, but knowing he needs to move on. There’s a real emotional depth to the connection between the pair, a sense of ‘rightness’ when they’re together that just lights up the page, which is incredibly satisfying – and incredibly frustrating when Lewis is seemingly bent on self-sabotage.
There’s also a terrific secondary cast – from Toni, Lewis’ supportive (and long-suffering) boss, to the absolutely ghastly TV exec Charlie Alexander, who I would happily have pushed under a bus (although I suspect Lewis would have beaten me to it!).
Total Creative Control is a delightful feel-good romance full of warmth and good humour that will make you smile and hit you in the feels in the best way. On to the keeper shelf it goes – and to the hint in the notes at the end that there may be more to come in this world, all I can say is I’m Here For It.
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Grade: A-
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 29/10/21
Publication Date: 10/2021
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
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I enjoyed this book. But it slid from an A to a B/B+ because I just had a hard time liking Lewis and his overlong obliviousness. I didn’t feel like his redemption was long enough? Believable-enough? I don’t know. I wasn’t feeling him and I definitely didn’t see him through the same rose colored glasses as Aaron did.
Still thrilled about his author pairing and looking forward to more from them!
I wavered a bit, but in the end I couldn’t really think of anything I disliked about it. I’m pretty sure there are two more books to come in this series :)
Thank god it wasn’t just me!! I’ve hesitated to write anything here because I love both authors and really, really wanted this book to be a DIK. It was a B+ for me, and I wondered if that was because I came in with very high expectations. I don’t think that’s the case. It came down to Lewis. He was full-on unlikeable in the beginning of the book, and I kept looking for a tiny slice to like but came up empty for far too long. By the time his unclenched, it was a bit too late. I adore both authors, however, so will definitely be tuning in for the rest of the series.
(PS: @Em Wittmann: your m/m reviews are missed!!)
I’m doing my best to fill the gap! ;)
Ack! ZERO offense meant, Caz!! I enjoy your reviews just as well. :)
I’m just on a hiatus! I’m working on my teacher certification in a new content area & it’s just been a lot w/my current teaching position. Hoping to be back at AAR sometime after the new year! I miss it, too. And Caz is getting all the books I’m dying to review!! :)
THANK YOU CAZ! And Edna!
Well, it’s certainly cut down on the number of fights we’d have… ;)
Absolutely loved this book – thanks so much for the recommendation Caz! It really hit the spot, I was looking for something that was angsty and with a lot of pining. What I loved about it was how it was also a lovely little love letter to fandom and the fanfic community. Fanfic is often denigrated in many circles and it is true that there are some truly terrible ones out there, but there are also some amazing transformative work. I love how the Skye and Faolan relationship seemed to mirror the relationship between Aaron and Lewis, so well done!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I agree about the fanfic element; I don’t read much of it nowadays, but I used to (and even wrote it!) – there’s a lot of dross, where people have literally just taken character names and nothing else, but in the very best of it, you can hear their speech rhythms and know the writers really love and understand what makes them tick. Hopefully book two will be here soon!
I finished this last night (rather, very early this morning) and really enjoyed it. I adored Aaron especially but both heroes were really well characterized. I liked that they had some thoughtful conversations and that once Aaron laid it all out on the table, it didn’t take Lewis very long to realize his own feelings too and take action. Charlie was truly the worst and I was happy that “poor Geoff” got revenge.
I’m not sure I agree with the designation of “angsty rom-com”. The angsty part is yes but I didn’t find that much comedic element to the book. Unless rom-com is just being used to let the reader know the book is lighter in tone/themes?
I also have to admit that I don’t really like the title – it just doesn’t seem romantic to me! I am not a fan of cartoon covers but I do like this one – they got the characters’ height, body type, hair color and clothing choices all correct!
I think the term “rom com” is being used as you say – I’ve read several books recently described as rom coms that are romantic, but not what I’d call comedy. Lighthearted, fun, witty and gently humorous, yes, but not laugh out loud funny.
Excited to read this one!
Oh goodie! I’ve been looking forward to your review of this one and I’m so happy it’s a winner! I’m ready for something a little “more” right now, without going down the super-angsty trail. Thank you!
Yes – it’s got a bit of angst, but it’s not OTT, and although there are some heavier moments, they don’t overwhelm the rest of the story.
I loved ENEMIES LIKE YOU/ENEMIES WITH BENEFITS (one is a “prequel” novella consisting of the first eight chapters of the other) co-written by Chambers with Annika Martin. I’d always hoped they’d go on to write other books together, but alas they never did.
I remember someone (you?) posting about this a while back. Thanks for the reminder!
That is a great book! I think I probably got the recommendation from you :)
We share a love of this duology!! I think I even reviewed it here at AAR! I wish there was more from this partnership, too!!!
THIS IS MY FRIDAY NIGHT PLAN.
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Love both these authors & this seems like a perfect partnership.
Their description of “angsty rom-com” is spot on! I hope you enjoy it :)
I have to work all day tomorrow so I think it will have to be my SATURDAY night plan! I was excited to read it in the first place but now with Caz’ stellar review – the wait is killing me!
I hope it’s worth the wait!
I loved this too – finished it last night when I couldn’t sleep!
I didn’t notice the authors’ note, but did see that the pages were headed “Creative Types (Book 1)” and was immensely pleased that they plan to write more.
I agree with everything you say, Caz. These are two authors really in command of romance tropes – I noticed a few occasions where they managed to swerve the plot to avoid the cliches that others might have fallen into.
Charlie is awful (but believable) – Well done, Poor Geoff!
Yes, I had it confirmed that there are more books to come after I’d written this review!
As you say, the authors have done a great job of avoiding pitfalls and clichés; this is one of those books that is SO well done that it belies the skill that must’ve gone into it.